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The Drowning Girl (2012)

by Caitlín R. Kiernan(Favorite Author)

3.79 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

0451464168 (ISBN13: 9780451464163)

languge

English

genre

Horror

publisher

Roc Trade

review 1: Sorry, I'm a bad person. This is a highly rated book by a major author in her genre, but it just didn't hook me. I found myself flipping through pages waiting for the point to arrive. I think this is why in general I avoid first person, and this one's subject mashed together unreliable narrator, mentally ill protagonist, and ghost story/mystery into one. That combo is probably why so many people like this book, but it did little for me. I simply didn't get into sorting through the MC's disconnected thoughts, false memories, or anecdotes that likely tied to the main thread, but I wasn't interested in following there. Nothing against the author - I have read tales by her that I did like. Nothing against anybody who liked this book either. I just didn't sink my teeth into it.... more Oh well.
review 2: This has essentially all elements I like: (1) storymaking as horrible ward against the dark, (2) lush sea imagery comboed with ritual nudity, (3) awesome trans lady characters, (4) magical systems, (5) a jaundiced view of modern ideas. So I am obliged to love it, with some reservations about the ending--I felt like I wanted to know more about what exactly Imp had gotten out of this, exactly what the gift that EC gives her means in the end? I think it is my fault for not getting this, however, and I read this while taking a break from Infinite Jest, which means I had less patience than normal for sorting stuff out. There is also intertextuality with Angela "Love" Carter so okay aces! less

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